After Rose Vigil, city lights up with symbolic acts against gendered violence

Through the ages, from U shapes representing humans painted on ancient rock faces to emojis adding subtext to smartphones, symbols have been our shortcut to understanding. 

So when women’s groups repurpose the traditionally romantic rose as a symbol of a woman lost to domestic violence, and then lay 53 of them on the lawn to represent those killed in Australia since last year’s Rose Vigil, the message cuts through.

“It was very emotional and very powerful,” said Women Illawarra's general manager, Michelle Glasgow, who read out the women’s names to the crowd who gathered for Tuesday’s ceremony at MacCabe Park. 

“The idea of having symbols and activities as a community is really important in bringing attention and awareness. It's also really important to humanise the people that are experiencing violence.”

Tuesday’s event was the fourth Rose Vigil, held annually on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Towards Women. 

“We take a moment to pause, to remember the women who've lost their lives to violence in Australia over the last 12 months, and to just honour their memory and give them a name so that they're not just a statistic in the news,” Michelle said. “We recognise their humanity.”

November 25 also marked the start of UN Women's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which runs until 10 December (Human Rights Day) and there are more symbolic acts ahead. 

City buildings are glowing orange at night, people are planning solidarity marches and Corrimal Rotary are launching a regular new “Purple Friday”, calling on local businesses to wear the club’s t-shirts to show they ‘Say NO to Domestic and Family Violence and Say YES to Respectful Relationships’.

Symbolism is spreading online too, via hashtags on social media that include UN Women’s slogan for the 16 Days of Activism, #SafeEverywhereAlways, #Stopviolenceagainstwomen and #16Days2025.

Jess Davidson, general manager at Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, said: “I think symbols help us remember, and they help us remember why we do things. They help start conversations. 

“But the reality is, we need more than symbols. We need action. We need men and women to come together and say that violence is never okay, and make sure that women and children are safe everywhere always. We want the Illawarra – instead of being a place where domestic and family violence is rising – being known as a place of safety, where women and children can thrive in communities.”

According to UN Women Australia, in this country, women face a 1 in 3 chance of being assaulted, and 1 in 2 will experience sexual harassment.

On average, every week in Australia a woman is killed by her current or former partner – a frequently cited figure that hit home when 53 roses were laid out at MacCabe Park.

“We are so information saturated,” Michelle said. “Sometimes, as a community, we don't stop to actually pause and reflect on the real people behind those statistics. 

“The roses are a reflection of the love and compassion and empathy that we hold for each of those women whose names we called out … the loss of their lives has had a real impact on every woman in Australia, not just those that they are directly related to.

“Unfortunately, there's been a history of victim blaming and, you know, secrecy and shame around women's experiences of violence. So symbols are really important in letting those victims know, who are maybe not reaching out for help, that our community is here to support them.

"We're putting the weight of the burden of shame on the perpetrators of this violence and not the victims of it.”

Jess – who read a poem by award-winning Gija/Bardi poet Nola Gregory at the vigil – said that, for her, each rose symbolised “the life that they lived and the beauty that was within that”.

“The reality is there shouldn't be a single rose there, and the fact that there were 53 representing the 53 lives, their families, their friend groups, their hopes, their dreams that are no longer here because of gendered violence, is shocking. So it was incredibly sombre and incredibly moving.”

For those who feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problem, Michelle recommends taking to social media. 

“It can feel like such a big problem, and you can't have an impact as an individual, but we're running a social campaign over the next 16 days, it’s 'Small Actions and Big Impacts'. Each day we will post something that somebody in the community can do to have an impact on gendered violence – within their family, within their friends’ group, within their workplace. 

“We can all take small actions to have a big impact.”

Michelle also supports the local 'Unite to 2500' campaign, which takes its name from Wollongong’s postcode, 2500, and the assumption that over the past 50 years in Australia, 2500 women have been killed through domestic and family violence. It’s run by the International Women’s Day Illawarra Committee, the Women's Health Centre and its Trauma Recovery Centre, with the support of Wollongong City Council.

Tonight, as buildings like our Town Hall shine orange, the colour of 16 Days of Activism, Michelle urges people to contribute. “Take a selfie in front of a lit-up building and share it and just raise awareness in our community, so that we can make Illawarra the safest place for women and children to live in Australia.”

How to mark 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Until Friday, 28 November: Buildings lit up in orange in honour of the International Day For The Elimination of Violence Against Women are Wollongong Central Keira Building, Town Hall, Wollongong Art Gallery, IMB Head Office, City Beach Function Centre, Novotel Wollongong Northbeach and the Crown Street Mall lights. Post these hashtags: #UniteFor2500 / #2500Reasons / #OrangeTheIllawarra / #EndViolence2500 / #WollongongUnites / #SafeEverywhereAlways

Saturday, 29 November: Rotary's Domestic Violence Awareness Walk, 10am-2pm. The combined Illawarra Rotary Clubs invite everyone to join a 2km walk from the Fairy Meadow Surf Club to Stuart Park. Afterwards, a range of women's services, police and others will talk about the issue.

Thursday, 4 December: Walk In Solidarity, run by Illawarra Women’s Health Centre in partnership with the Illawarra Women's Trauma Recovery Centre. Wear orange and march across Windang Bridge. Starts at Reddall Reserve, Lake Illawarra at 10am, ends with morning tea at 11.30am.

Friday, 5 December: Corrimal Rotary launches “Purple Friday” in the Corrimal CBD to back calls to 'Say NO to Domestic and Family Violence and Say YES to Respective Relationships'. On Fridays, local businesses will be encouraged to wear Rotary’s purple shirts as a statement. Look out for their marquee outside the Service NSW building on the Princes Highway. 

Until 10 December: UN Women Australia’s Safe. Everywhere. Always challenge is part of the 16 Days of Activism and open to everyone. Complete 30, 60 or 100kms any way you want by 10 December. This is a fundraiser for UN Women Australia and its initiatives.

Where to find help

If in immediate danger, call 000. 

For support, call 1800RESPECT, the national domestic family sexual violence counselling service, on 1800 737 732 or visit the website.

Women Illawarra is a not-for-profit community organisation that offers domestic and family violence support services for women, including information, referral, resources, support groups, community health and court support.

Illawarra Women's Health Centre is a not-for-profit, non-government organisation that provides free or low-cost and affordable medical, allied and complementary health care as well as health and well-being programs.

Read more

Meet 5 women who went to make things right and Reclaim the Night

Voices for change arise as marchers Reclaim the Night